Electric switch.



s. Mmm. ELECTRI SW'ICH. APPLICATIH FiLED HAY H). 19H.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Paemed Nov. 30, 1911i C. l. LEN.

ELECRJC SWICH, aPPucMfoN vman my :6, :911.

Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

@aan www?.

2 SHEETS`SHEET .2.

CHARLES J. KLEIN, MFG. C0., OF

a f@ STATES PATENT GFFCE f or MILWAUKEE, wisconsin, AssIeNoR 'ro THE GUTLERPHAMMER MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION. OF WI'SCONSIN.

ELECTRIC vsvrrrcn.

' 'Patented Nov. 3o, 1915.

Application sied may 19, 1911. serial messala?.

and State of lVisconsin, have invented new.l

and useful lmprovements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a full, y

clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

lvly invention relates to electric switch devices.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved electric switch of eX- tremely simple, efficient, compact and inexpensive construction. A, y

A further object of my inventionis. to provide an electric switch, comprising a'plurality of independently operable switch; mechanisms mounted in a single casing, adapted to make and break one or more circuits with a quick snap action and a minimum sparking.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved switch casing which is adapted to house a plurality of switch mechanisuls so that the parts of the latter are fully protected and at the saine time readily accessible when desired. i

Other objects and advantages of my invention will hereinafter appear. y

in the accompanying drawings I have shown one forni which my invention may assume in practice. This form has been chosen for purposes of illustrationonly and my invention itself is in no way limited to this specific form but may assume various other forms and be widely modified without del'iarting from its spirit.

ln the views of these drawings z-Figure l showsa partial central sectional view of the assembled switch. F 1g. 2 shows a transverse sectional. viev on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig.

3 shows an elevation of the interior of one of the halves of the switchcasing. Figs. 4 and 5 show detail views of the switch contacter.

ln these figures 1 have'shcwn two'switchl mechanisms of the push button type arranged one above the other and inclosed in a two part 'casing carrying the terminal connections for two circuits. :This casingis arranged to be clamped together by a trans-f versely extending screw which passes through `mechanisms. The top ofthe casing is ine` closed in a cap provided with suitable means for attaching it to the top of th'e casingy and with a suitable conductor gasket through which theA conductors may extend to the switch terminals. *l

In a preferred form the switch mechanisms are of the typedescribed in previously granted Patent No. 985,421, wat nted February 28, 1911. This mechaittm includes a reciprocable cam. li of the lconformation of a double frustum, positioned base to base, having Bauges 2 at its reduced ends'and' oppositely extending push buttons 3,' of a smaller diameter than the flanges 2,

abutting against the outer vertical surfaces Y of the flanges and arranged to extend through openings in opposite sides of the casing. Y A contactor .4 having central perforations reciprocated upon the movement 4ot the same as the push buttons are pushed in and out. In a preferred form the body portion of this contacter 4 is bent backward substantially'at right angles at its opposite sides, as

vshown in Fig. 4, and their bent forward to form rearwardly extending rounded shoulders 6 having projections 6a. and forwardly extending side pieces 7 which extend' substantially at right angles to the body portion of the contacter and beyond the front surface of the same. The forward edges of these side pieces 7 are slightly peaked as at 8 and are turned slightly outward jas indicated at 9. A spacing strip 10, perforated at and having laterallyA extendingshoulders 1l at its corners is carried in notches 12 in the top and bottom edges of the side pieces 7 so that the shoulders 11 'fit snugly.

within-the notches 172. In a preferred form holes 13 are provided in the body portion of the contacter 4 at points inthe line along which the side pieces are bent, to facilitate the bending of the side pieces andv to give resiliency to the contacter. A garter spring 14 is carried between the spacing strip l0 and the body portion of the contactor. This garter Aspring gives the snap action to the switch mechanism. In a preferred form slotsr are formed' in the' sides of the., side pieces 7 between the .spacing strip 1Q and the.

body portionllof the' contacter so that-the magg ""14 mayjexpand freelywithout Urubbingegaunst the walls-pf thewntaetor, when f illustrated in lillig.

large'd the crest of the cam is passed through the spring.

In a preferred form two such switch mechanisms are mounted one above the other in the same plane and parallel as shown in Fig. 1 between the two halves 16 and 17 of a substantially cylindrical casing having an open upper end and a closed lower end. This casing is preferably constructed of in sulating material and the halves of the same are arranged to be fitted together, as shown in Fig. 1, and held in assembled relation by a transversely extending screw 13 carried in a recess 19 in a transversely extending septum l2O in the casing member 17, and received in a recess 21 in the casing 16, registering with the recess 19. lf desired this screw may carry a suitable insulating washer 22 arranged to be housed in a suitable recess 23 in the inner surface of the casing 16 around the recess 21 when the parts are scmbled. Suitable recesses 24 and 25 at the opposite ends of the recesses 1L and 21 respectively, permit the ends of the screw 13 to be housed within the periphery of the casing members and at the same time permit access to the same. ln a. preferred form the screw 13 is located `in the same plane as the push buttons 3 of the switch mechanisms and lies parallel with these push buttons 'and between the same, as shown in Fig. 1. ln order to house the contactors 4, chambers 26 of a substantially rectangular cross section are formed in the inner casing member '17 above and below the septum 20. As shown in Fig. 1 the left hand side walls ofthe chambers 26 provide stops for the contactors 4 in their backward movement. Communicating with the chambers 26 are transversely extending recesses 2? of a substantially circular cross section. These chambers are arranged to receive the flanged ends of the cam member 1 and when the cam is pushed to the left to the position occupied by the lower cam member, 1, the side walls of the recesses 27 serve' as stops for the cam members. Connecting with the recesses 27 are circular recesses 28 of reduced cross section, extending' through to the outside of the casing 'members These recesses 28 provide guides for the reciprocable outwardly eX- tending push buttons 3. lf desired the mouths of these recesses may be slightly enaround the ends of the push buttons as shown at 29 in Fig. 1. In a preferred form a ,wall 3() of the same height as the septum 20 eiitends entirely around the chambers 26. This wall is adapted to lit in a substantially rectangular 31 formed in the inner surface of the casing member 16 and in a preferred form the interfitting faces are slightly sloped as shown in Fig. 2. The interior o this casing memher 16 is illustrated in Fig. 3. Centrally located in the casing member 16 are trans shaped recess the right of the, recesses 32 and 33, while the.

recess 34 is at the left. As illustrated in this lligure these recesses are arranged to receive the Shanks of terminals 37, 3S and 39. The terminal 37 is provided with a long shank which extends substantially from one end of the casing member 1G to the other, and throughout the greater portion oi its length is of a substantially rectangular cro-ss scctio-n. At its upper end this terminal 37 is provided with a slightly offset enlarged head 40v carried in a recess 41 in the upper end of the easingmember and fixed to the same by a transversely extending screw 42 extending through the casing member and accessible from the outside of the same. In a preferred form the upper end of the head 40 is bent slightly backward and the chamber 41 is so shaped as to carry the head flat upon itsl bottom. A binding screw 43 passes through the head 40 and has its threaded end housed in the recess 41 in the base member. In a preferred forni the sides of the chamber 41 are slightly dished as at 44 to permit the ready manipulation of the contact screw, and ears 45 are provided on opposite sides of the head 40 beneath the contact screw 43 and a lug 46 bent substantially at right angles to the body of the head 40 is provided abo-ve the Contact screw 43. These ears 45 and the lug 46 assist in permitting a good terminal connection to be made to the binding screw 43.

As illustrated in Fig, 3, the recess 35 and the shank of the terminal 38 housed within the same are shorter than the recess 34 and the shank of the terminal 38 just described. l`he upper end of the terminal 38 is similar to the upper end of the terminal 3T and is carried in a similar recess in the casing member and similarly secured to the casing. ln preferred form the upper portion of the recess 36 is not as deep as the recesses 34 and 35 and the terminal member rests .flat upon its bottom. In a preferred form a septum 47 is provided about midway of thev recess 34 to support the shank of the ter`- minal 37 above the bottom of the recess. The lower end of the terminal 39 is bent laterally as shown at 48 in Fig, 3, and extends vertically downward from that point in the plane of the terminal 38. In a preferred form the shanlz; of this terminal, below the point 48, is supported above the bottom of the recess, just as in the case of the terminal 37. The lower ends of both the terminals 37 and 39 are bent slightly inward, as indicated at 49 in Fig. 1, and may be sealed in a correspondingly shaped recess 50. The terminal 39 is provided with a head similar to that of the terminals 37 and 38, similarly seated in` the'casing,l while the recesses in which the heads of the telrminals 37 and 38 are seated may communicate through a recess 51 the recessin -wlic'hjhe head of the terminal 39 is seated preilerably does not communicate with the adjoiningrecess. if

desired the wall between the terminals 88 and 39 may be Inadeislightly higher than the wall between the terminals 37 and 38. In a preferred form the upper end or head of the terminal 38 is bent slightly Jfarther backward than the heads of the, terminals 87 and 39, and the recess in which it is seated is correspondingly sloped. l

When the parts are assembled the switch mechanisms are located as shown in Fig. and the two halves of the casing are held togetherby the transversely extending'screw 18. '.lhe wall 30 around the chambers 26 fits securely in the recess 3l in the casing member 16 so that the switch mechanism is entirely inclosed.' The binding screws for the terminal members 37, 38 and 39 are accessible from the upper end of the casing.

ln a preferred form the upper inner surface of the casing member 1'? is slightly cut away as at 52 to permit a more tree access to these ing members are provided with an outer peripheral groove 53 arranged to receive the lower end of a cap 54. This cap 54 is preferably' formed of sheet metal and carries Within a perforation in the upper end of the same an insulating conductor gasket 55 provided with a central groove 56 through which the conductors pass to the binding screws. In orderto properly insulate the arts, an insulating lining 57 is provided..

his lining has its upper edge received in a groove 58 in the lower surface of the conductor gasket 55, and extends downwardly as shown in Fig. l, passing between the lower edge of the cap 54 and the casing members. ln a preferred form the cap 54 and the insulating lining 57 are secured to the casing by oppositely located inwardly extending screws 59 which are received in 'recesses 60 in the grooved upper ends of the my improved switch to tvvo circuits or to one circuit all that it is necessary t0 do is to conncct the necessary conductors for the desired circuits to the proper binding screws of the terminal members. Ready access to these binding screws may be obtained by loosening these screws 51) and removing the cap 5l. li desired the conductors may be knotted above these terminals vwithin the cap By the provision of the gasket in the cap the conductors 'are provided with a smooth surface which is adapted to prevent the wear ot' their insulation and are also suitably insulated so that no static charge may be transmitted to the switch cap in case this cap should be of conducting material.

Assuming that the terminals 37 and 38 are arranged in one circuit and that terminals 3T and Y39 are arranged. in another all that is necessary to do in my improved switch is to push the upper push button to the left from the position shown in F ig. 1 to throw the contactors #l to the right to close the first circuit and push the bottom button to the left to close the other circuit. 'ifhe contact edge of the side pieces of the contacter will advance along the outer edge of the terminals and engage the same with a wiping action which tends to keep the contact.' parts bright and clean. Due to my improved snap switch mechanism this circuit will be made very quickly, as soon as the spring is passed over the crest of the cam. Further when the contact-or reaches the forward limit oi2 its travel, thatis when the front surface ot' the spacing strip l() abuts against the adjacent sur-tace oiz 'the terminals, the cam member will have reached the left end limit of its travel and flange 2 will abut against the side wall ot' the recess Thus it is seen that there is no strain upon the parts and that thc circuit is closed quicklyvwith little or no sparking. while the contact members are kept in good condition. `When it is desired to open the circuit all that it is necessary to do is to push the controlling cain member to thc right to throw the contacter to open circuit position. lll/hen the contactors are moved to open circuit position the peaked outturned edges of the contactiirs are separated Afrom thc side of the terminals with the same wiping action, and the spark thus 'formed bctiveeirtlie contact-s is cut down. `l `urther, due to the provision of the resilient contactoi's the shock of impact between the parts is absorbed to a great degree by the contacter.

By my improved constriu-:t-ion l have provided an improved switch device adapted to make or break one or more circuits, in which the switch mechanism is compactly housed and conveniently arranged so that it is readily accessible when it is desired to change the circuit connections.

By the use of my improved switch the sircd. Further, duc to the improved manner in which l have arranged the switch mechanism, it is obvious that one or anyl number ot.' circuits may be controlled by a single device, the different circuits being controlled by di [ferent sets oiE push buttons, or it desired one or more circuits may be controlled by a single set ot' push buttons. Further, it is plainly evident that various other types ot' switch mechanisms may be assembled within the casings to perform the functions herein described, and that the particnlar functions ot the devices may be widely changed, and their construction widely modi tied without departing from the spirit ot my invention.

W hile l have in this application described specifically one form which my invention may assume in practice, havechosen this form only as a. means of illustrating the principle ot' my invention.

v My invention itself may obviously assume various other forms than that herein described and beadapted to various other uses, and I accordingly wish to include all these various forms within the scope ot this application and to be in no way limited or restricted to the specific construction described for pinposes of illustration.

VJhat l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent isz- 1. In a pendent switch, in combination, a molded insulating casing, a plurality of switch mechanisms carried therein one. above the other and insulated from each other by said casing, the operating members of said mechanisms projecting through a vertical "wall ot' said casing, vertically extending stationary contacts carried within said casing, one of said contacts serving;` as a common contact for a` plurality of said switch mechanisms, and terminal connections for all of said contacts accessible from the upper end of said casing.

2. ln a pendent switch, in combination, a longitudinally divided casing ot' molded insulation, a plurality o't"switch mechanisms carried therein and having; double-ended ing mechanism is readily accessible and may be readily connected or disconnectedv as depush-button operating'membcrs' extending without the walls of said casing, stationary '05 ment with each other, a lstationary contact common to all of said switch mechanisms and a separate stationary Contact for each ot'V said switch mechanisms, said separate contacts having alined engageable portions equi-distant from the corresponding engageable portions of said common stationary contact,

4.' A pendent switch comprising, in combination, a multipart casing having a plurality Vof substantially closed chambers therein, a

switch mechanism mounted in each of Said chambers, a single contact extending within all of said chambers and separate contacts extending within each of said chambers, all ot' said contacts4 having terminals without said chambers and adjacent an end of'said casing. l f

A pendent switch comprising, in combination, a 'multipart casing of molded insulation` the parts of said casing having spaced open recesses constituting closed chambers. separated by an insulating wall when the parts of said casing are brought together, a switch mechanism mounted within each ot' said chambers and supported by said casing parts, each of said mechanisms having an operating member projecting through a. part ot' said casing. and means for securing the parts ot said casing together.

6. A pendent switch comprising` in combination, a longitudinally divided casing, a plurality of -independently operable switch mechanisms loosely supported within said. casing, a common contactfor all of saidswitch mechanisms and separate contacts for each of the same fixed on one of the adjacent faces of said casing, the 'partso't said' casing having. complementally located rccesses to receive parts of said switch mechanisms and to hold the latter in operative position, and means to secure the parts` of said casing together.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES J. KLEIN. Witnesses :l

W. L. Rocicwmm, GEO. HAYNns. 

